Nestled in a luscious green valley in Brea, on the outskirts of Camborne, transgender people from Cornwall and further afield are busy pitching up tents and readying themselves for a weekend of socialising and expression.

The visitors are all gathering for an event run by non-profit making organisation Safe Haven, that provides loving support for people involved within the transgender/non-binary community.

Safe Haven, which was started two and a half years ago by Pixie and Paul/Paula Swarbrick, is a safe private venue for people to socialise, make friends, laugh and simply be themselves in a fearless environment.

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A transgender is a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex and Safe Haven welcomes people from all ends of the spectrum, from people experimenting with cross dressing to those who live their lives as the opposite sex.

Once a month Safe Haven hosts party weekends, three days’ worth of entertainment which includes a disco, a cabaret night, pool and the opportunity for those in attendance to meet like-minded people who face the same battles for acceptance.

Rach, Pixie and Gail get ready for the Safe Haven party weekend

Pixie said: “Our first party had 10 to 15 people here and we didn’t know how it would go as Cornwall is very traditional, but word of mouth has really helped get it going.

“We’re in a quiet cul-de-sac where people can feel comfortable and the front of the house is covered by CCTV so it really is a safe place for people to come.

"We’ve had people so scared to come in that we’ve seen them sat in their cars outside so I’ve quickly gone out and reassured them and got them to come inside.

“Sadly we’ve had people come here who’ve been beaten up but the community here have been brilliant and we welcome some of them to our parties.

“People come and go all the time here, some initially get together and go shopping in groups, then gain confidence to go in a pair and then I get a call saying they’ve been by themselves.

"We get people at all stages of their journeys and when they gain confidence to go out and be who they want to be it’s a very proud moment. They’ve flown the nest and we then sit back and watch them blossom.”

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Pixie and Paul recently married and Pixie has known from the start that Paul is bi-gender, meaning that he identifies both as Paul and Paula, and can arrive at work dressed as either a man or a woman depending on how he feels.

Pixie works at Toolstation and is tasked with the DIY around the couple's home while Paul/Paula is a team leader at Matalan and keeps the home looking neat and tidy.

Paul/Paula and Pixie Swarbrick, the couple behind Safe Haven

“I’ve known all my life, I just hid it,” said Paul.

“I’ve always done manly jobs. I did 25 years in the army and then became a bailiff but there came a point where I just needed to find me.

“It took me seven months to get the look and confidence right and I feel more comfortable as Paula. I’m quite lucky as because I’m quite petite I’ve been able to make sure I look good.”

Paula went on to explain that female to male transition is generally easier as women can blend in more easily, as opposed to a six foot plus man dressed as a woman.

Paula Swarbrick

Both Paul/Paula and Pixie agree that on the whole people in Cornwall are tolerant to transgender people, however, all it takes is one person to snigger or make a remark and it can set a person back months in their quest to find their true self.

“You’d think it would be the teenagers but they’re actually a lot better,” added Paul/Paula.

“It’s the parents we have to work on but we’ve met some who have taken their children along to pride events to show them diversity. Every generation is a chance to change attitudes.”

Pixie went on to explain that there is roughly a two year wait to make use of the NHS gender clinic and in that timeframe the suicide rate for transgender people is as high as 84%.

Paula Swarbrick looking glamorous

She says that Safe Haven is there to help its users with advice on how to progress with their journeys, evaluate their options with expert advice and meet other like-minded people to share their lives and tales with.

Paul/Paula added that it is impossible to overstate the scale of the transition phase.